US3831318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Explosion detection and suppression method and apparatus
Assignee: Rocket Research Co
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Filing: 1972-05-08
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1992-05-08
Abstract
Abstract In a coal mine passage, a plurality of stored bags which can be rapidly inflated with an inflating medium having a combustion suppressing agent to form a barrier to the propagation of a combustion reaction of a fuel-air mixture, such as a mixture of coal dust and/or methane and air. To detect an incipient propagating combustion reaction, there is a radiation sensor, a static pressure sensor and a dynamic pressure sensor. There is a data analysis computer comprising a discriminator which determines a condition where radiation is above a certain predetermined level, and static and dynamic pressure are below a predetermined level within an initial short time period (e.g. 0.15 seconds) of sensing such increased radiation. When such a condition exists, the discriminating means arms an activating means which inflates the barrier bags in response to a predetermined level of increase of any one of the following five values: static pressure, dynamic pressure, rate of dynamic air pressure increase, rate of static pressure increase, and rate of radiation increase. Thus the apparatus discriminates between an actual condition of a possible rapidly propagating combustion reaction and such other disturbances as a stationary flame, electrical spark or a blast wave that do not result in such reaction. By initially containing the combustion suppressing medium in an inflatable, a more effective barrier is formed.
Inventors
- 👤 J Richmond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:15
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21F; E21F5/00; E21F5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
In a location, such as a coal mine, where there is susceptibility to a propagating explosive-like reaction along a confined path, apparatus to suppress propagation of said reaction, said apparatus comprising: a. detecting means disposed relative to said location to detect a situation of at least possible propagation of an explosivelike reaction along said path, b. inflatable barrier bag means located proximate said path and having a collapsed position blocking the propagating path of said reaction and an inflated position with an outer surface of said bag means exposed to said reaction, and c. inflating means operatively connected to said detecting means so as to be responsive to said detecting means and arranged to inflate the bag means to its inflated position within a time period sufficient to block propagation of said reaction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a location, such as a coal mine, where there is susceptibility to a propagating explosive-like reaction along a confined path, apparatus to suppress propagation of said reaction, said apparatus comprising: a. detecting means disposed relative to said location to detect a situation of at least possible propagation of an explosivelike reaction along said path, b. inflatable barrier bag means located proximate said path and having a collapsed position blocking the propagating path of said reaction and an inflated position with an outer surface of said bag means exposed to said reaction, and c. inflating means operatively connected to said detecting means so as to be responsive to said detecting means and arranged to inflate the bag means to its inflated position within a time period sufficient to block propagation of said reaction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflating means comprises an inflating medium comprising reaction suppressing matter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said bag means comprises a bag surface material that is deteriorable, whereby said reaction suppressing matter becomes exposed to said reaction upon deterioration of said surface material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said bag surface material is a heat deteriorable material which experiences deterioration from heat of said reaction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said inflating means comprises fire suppressing matter and means to distribute said fire suppressing matter in said bag means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said fire suppressing matter is atomizable or vaporizable matter and said distributing means comprises means to atomize or vaporize said matter in said bag means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a location, such as a coal mine, where there is susceptibility to a propagating explosive-like reaction along a confined path, a method of suppressing propagation of said reaction, said method comprising: a. detecting a situation of at least possible propagation of said reaction, and b. inflating an inflatable barrier bag means to a position blocking the propagating path of said reaction with an outer surface of said bag means exposed to said reaction in said path and within a time period sufficient to cause suppression of propagation of said reaction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a location, such as a coal mine, where there is susceptibility to a propagating explosive-like reaction along a confined path, a method of suppressing propagation of said reaction, said method comprising: a. detecting a situation of at least possible propagation of said reaction, and b. inflating an inflatable barrier bag means to a position blocking the propagating path of said reaction with an outer surface of said bag means exposed to said reaction in said path and within a time period sufficient to cause suppression of propagation of said reaction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising inflating said inflatable bag means with an inflating medium comprising reaction suppressing matter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The nethod as recited in claim 8, further characterized in deploying as bag surface material a deteriorable material, whereby said reaction suppressing matter becomes exposed to said reaction upon deterioration of said surface material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 9, further characterized in deploying a bag surface material that is heat deteriorable so that said reaction suppressing matter becomes exposed upon deterioration of said surface material from heat of said reaction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising distributing in said bag means fire suppressing matter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said distributing is accomplished by atomizing or vaporizing said fire suppressing matter in said bag means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a relatively confined location, such as a coal mine, where a fuel material, such as coal dust, is susceptible to being mixed with air in said location such that there is a possibility of a combustion reaction of a fuel-air mixture and subsequent propagation of said combustion along a path, apparatus to detect a situation of such combustion and incipient propagation of such combustion, said apparatus comprising: a. first sensing means to sense combustion radiation at said location, b. second sensing means to sense air pressure at said location, c. third discriminating means responsive to said first and second means to determine a condition of combustion radiation combined with pressure below a predetermined level within a predetermined time period after initial combustion radiation, d. fourth activating means responsive to said third means determining said condition and further responsive to a predetermined increase at said location of at least one of static air pressure, dynamic air pressure, rate of change of combustion radiation, rate of change of static pressure, or rate of change of dynamic air pressurE, whereby propagation of said combustion is detected, and e. confinement barrier means containing combustion suppressing means and being operatively connected to said fourth activating means in a manner to be activated by said fourth activating means to be deployed in a position blocking the propagating path of said reaction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a relatively confined location, such as a coal mine, where a fuel material, such as coal dust, is susceptible to being mixed with air in said location such that there is a possibility of a combustion reaction of a fuel-air mixture and subsequent propagation of said combustion along a path, apparatus to detect a situation of such combustion and incipient propagation of such combustion, said apparatus comprising: a. first sensing means to sense combustion radiation at said location, b. second sensing means to sense air pressure at said location, c. third discriminating means responsive to said first and second means to determine a condition of combustion radiation combined with pressure below a predetermined level within a predetermined time period after initial combustion radiation, d. fourth activating means responsive to said third means determining said condition and further responsive to a predetermined increase at said location of at least one of static air pressure, dynamic air pressure, rate of change of combustion radiation, rate of change of static pressure, or rate of change of dynamic air pressurE, whereby propagation of said combustion is detected, and e. confinement barrier means containing combustion suppressing means and being operatively connected to said fourth activating means in a manner to be activated by said fourth activating means to be deployed in a position blocking the propagating path of said reaction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a relatively confined location, such as a coal mine, where a fuel material, such as coal dust, is susceptible to being mixed with air in said location such that there is a possibility of a combustion reaction of a fuel-air mixture and subsequent propagation of said combustion, a method to detect a situation of such combustion and incipient propagation of such combustion, said method comprising: a. sensing combustion radiation at said location, b. sensing air pressure at said location, c. determining a condition of combustion radiation and air pressure below a predetermined level within a predetermined time period after initial combustion radiation. d. after determining said condition, sensing an increase at said location in at least one of static air pressure, dynamic air pressure, rate of change of combustion radiation, rate of change of static air pressure, or rate of change of dynamic air pressure, and e. initiating combustion suppression means in response to sensing said predetermined increase after determining said condition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a relatively confined location, such as a coal mine, where a fuel material, such as coal dust, is susceptible to being mixed with air in said location such that there is a possibility of a combustion reaction of a fuel-air mixture and subsequent propagation of said combustion, a method to detect a situation of such combustion and incipient propagation of such combustion, said method comprising: a. sensing combustion radiation at said location, b. sensing air pressure at said location, c. determining a condition of combustion radiation and air pressure below a predetermined level within a predetermined time period after initial combustion radiation. d. after determining said condition, sensing an increase at said location in at least one of static air pressure, dynamic air pressure, rate of change of combustion radiation, rate of change of static air pressure, or rate of change of dynamic air pressure, and e. initiating combustion suppression means in response to sensing said predetermined increase after determining said condition.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a location, such as a coal mine, where there is susceptibility to a propagating explosive-like reaction along a confined path, apparatus to suppress propagation of said reaction, said apparatus comprising: a. inflatable barrier bag means located proximate said path and having a collapsed position and an inflated position blocking the propagating path of said reaction with an outer surface of said bag means exposed to said reaction, and b. inflating means arranged to inflate the bag means to its inflated position within a time period sufficient to block propagation of said reaction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a location, such as a coal mine, where there is susceptibility to a propagating explosive-like reaction along a confined path, apparatus to suppress propagation of said reaction, said apparatus comprising: a. inflatable barrier bag means located proximate said path and having a collapsed position and an inflated position blocking the propagating path of said reaction with an outer surface of said bag means exposed to said reaction, and b. inflating means arranged to inflate the bag means to its inflated position within a time period sufficient to block propagation of said reaction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said inflating means comprises an inflating medium comprising reaction suppressing matter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said bag means comprises a bag surface material that is deteriorable, whereby said reaction suppressing matter becomes exposed to said reaction upon deterioration of said surface material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said bag surface material is a heat deteriorable material which experiences deterioration from heat of said reaction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said inflating means comprises fire suppressing matter and means to distribute said fire suppressing matter in said bag means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said fire suppressing matter is atomizable or vaporizable matter and said distributing means comprises means to atomize or vaporize said matter in said bag means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |